Latch for chains



E. M. HOWG.

LATCH FOR CHAINS. APPUCATION man SEPT 9, 192

Patented June 13', 1922.

EDWIN Id. HOVIG, OF LENNOX, SOUTH. DAKOTA.

LATCH FOR CHAINS.

tie

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented June 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDVJIN M. Howe, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Lennon, in the county of Lincoln and State oi South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful linprovements in Latches l' or hains. oi which the following is a full, clear, and c act description,

lily invention relates to latches for chains, and more iiartienlarly to a latch. or lever for locking nonskid chains on automobile tires, and has tor its object to provide novel means for secnring the latch or lever in locking position.

A further object of the invention is to so form the latch that the pull of the chain thereon will tend to hold the latch in closed position rather than tend to open it.

0th objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when take in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

i igrure l is an elevation of the chain showing the latch about to be moved to locking position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, the latch being: shown in locked position, and

.ifin'ure l is a side elevation of the latch removed from the chain.

liel erringg' to the drawing; more in detail, the numeral l designates a chain of any type ahln nigrh myinvention is intended more c pecially to be used in connection with the longitudinally extending chains of non-skid chains which encircle the wheels ol autmnohiles. Pivoted to one of the links of the chain, pi 'tel'ably the end llnk, Is

the latci J, WlliCll is substantially hookshaped, and has its longer arm t bent into the term ot a spiral The spiral 5 terminates in the .inger 6.

The latch 33 is also provided with the inclined notch or passageway 7 which terminates at or slightly beyond the pivot point of the latch. By having the notch 7 located in the manner shown, the pull of the chain is along the line of the pivot and thereby will not tend to throw the latch open or distort the same.

in securing the latch in position the arm l is extended through the desired link, as shown in l ig'iu'e l of the drawing, the latch is then sv-rune, on its pivot to the position shown in Figure 2. The link 8 is then manipulated to sucn positions that the spira will encircle it and thereby lock the latch in position. By having the finger 6 somewhat elongate-d danger of the spiral becoming detached is completely eliminated.

lilavine' fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure b llietters Patent is:

1.. in a non-skid chain for tires, a chain, a latch comprising. a hook-shaped member connected thereto, and a spiral formation on one of said hook-shaped member, said spiral extending through at least 360, relative movement of the chain links permittingtic-operative engagement of the spiral formation and one of the links.

2. In a noirskid chain for tires, a chain, a latch comprising' a hook-shaped member connected thereto, and a spiral formation on one end o'l said hook-shaped member, said spiral extending; through at least 360, relative movement of the chain links permitting co-operative engagement of the spiral formation and one of the links.

3. The combination with a chain of a hook-shaped member pivoted to one end of the chain, the longer arm of the hookshaped member being adapted to extend through a link of the other end of the chain, and a spiral formation on said arm 'l or engaging a portion of the chain, said spiral extending through at least 360, relative movement oi the chain links permitting co-operative engagement of the spiral formation and one of the links.

i. The combination with a chain of a hook-shaped member pivoted to one end ot' the chain, the longer arm of the hookshaped member being adapted to extend through a link of the other end of: the chain, the passageway between the arms of the hook-shaped member being inclined so that it terminates in line with the pivot and the end of the longer arm.

EDWIN M. HOWG. 

